Kimbia: A delightful insight in the Kenyan running culture

Kenya is internationally known as a running nation. Kenyan runners are admired worldwide. Like many unsung heroes, quite little is known about them and what they go through to achieve such great heights. The Theatre Company of Kenya is striving to tell the story of the athletes, in a new performance called ‘Kimbia’, which literally means ‘run’ in Kiswahili.

 

‘Kimbia’ is a strong inter-disciplinary production that combines theatre, music, dance, and multimedia. ‘Kimbia’ is made up of five exciting, innovative and collaborative theatrical plays; ‘Out of the Game’,’ When the Door Opens’, ‘Just a Man’, ‘Doping’ and ‘Usiguskong’ (which means in Slang ‘Don’t Look Back’). They are all based on the thrills, temptations, desires and fears of Kenyan Athletes.

 

The pieces highlight issues such as an athlete’s journey from training to actually racing, the impact of injuries both physically and psychologically, doping to enhance performance and the highs and lows of the sport. The five plays were given to five writers for re-working. The writers are Cajetan Boy, Joseph Murungu, Edward Nthiga, Joseph Gichinga and Ogutu Muraya. Directors of the play are Liz Enane and Mido Dembede. The actors are Chebet Beryl, Sylviah Namussasi, Mercy Dali, Joseph Gichinga, Kiprotich Odhiambo and John Wasonga. All of them are, just as the runners, Kenyan talent, professionally trained at facilities of The Theatre Company around the country.

 

‘Kimbia’ is part of The Theatre Company’s annual Fire by Ten Touring Show of 2013/2014. As the show appreciates and celebrates the pride that our Kenyan athletes bring to our nation, through their hard work and dedication, it is also the company’s contribution to Kenya’s 50th anniversary of independence.

 

‘Kimbia’, which provides an excellent insight in the Kenyan running culture, will start touring Eastern Africa as from this month. For information about timings and locations, please call Syonthi Ngoru, +254 722 885 985. For more information on The Theatre Company, log onto: www.theatrecompany.net

By Rhoda Okono.